Having a yellow fever certificate while traveling is one of those things that one can easily take for granted especially if no one asks for it. Corrie Mwende found herself on the wrong side of the law when after traveling to Uganda by road, she decided to fly back with Air Rwanda. One would think that those traveling by road are immune to the disease as the certificate was not a requirement at the border. After landing at J.K.I.A that is when all hell broke loose with the lady being told that she had to be quarantined and her blood tested for the disease. Check out her not so amused tweets on her experience so far.
1. Hi @KenyaAirports its been 25 hours and I am still being held at JKIA because of not having a yellow fever certificated.
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
2. I travelled to Uganda by road, np one at yhe border stopped me. No one asked me about the yellow fever cert @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
3.When I booked my flight with #RwandaAir there was no disclaimer on having the cert. Because otherwise I would get one @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
4. Got here & was told that they need to test my blood for yellow fever. And i would have to spend the night. I cooperated. @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
5. So from 10:30 am i patiently waited for the lab guy from @KEMRIW who arrived at 4:30 pm. He took my blood sample. @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
6. The @KEMRIW guy said that i would have the results by morning. So your guys gave me neals and accommodation. @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
8. At 8:30am i go back to the officers who tell me that they are waiting for the results. I ask how long it takes… @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
9. They tell me that they have no idea…because it is all controlled by @KEMRIW i’m like sawa. @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
10. 9:30 am i ask them then i am told that it takes 6-8hours to get results from @KEMRIW but its been more than 12hours. @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
11. So yesterday i asked one of your officers why they don’t take this exercise serious at the border. Her response… @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
12. She said that because JKIA is international . smh. So people at the border crossing are immune to it??? @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
13. As i tweet the lab guy from @KEMRIW has come to test more blood. He tells me that KEMRI guys were not working jana @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
14. And yet as he took my blood yesterday he said that @KEMRIW is 24hours. So communication from both of you is conflicting @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
15. Probably i may seem like someone who is idle &can just wait around the airport, but can you imagine i have things to do @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
16. Also i am supposed to be under quarantine apparently… Thats what your officers said…but I am not in isolation @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
7. You guys have double standards though. Yesterday some chic lied that she lost her cert and she was let go… @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
18. People are buying these certs and some bribing to get out of a situation like mine…bana you guys!!! @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
19. @KenyaAirports some ladies here have been given the option of being vaccinated, let go and will be given results later!! HO NOW??
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
No one should be allowed to travel without the necessary documents, however communication is important…@KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016
Plus the double standards…we are risking our country if we bribe or allow fake certs for yellow fever to be acquired @KenyaAirports
— MissWriter (@corriemwende) April 18, 2016